Research Title: The Inhibitory Effect of Spices and Flavonoid Compounds on Formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-Phenylimidazo [4,5-b] Pyridine (PhIP) in a Model System

Author: Zaher Qassim Al-Bashabsheh, Published Year: 2020

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research,, 8, No. 12, 746-751

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are a class of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds generated when muscle foods are cooked at high temperatures. Exposure to HCAs has been linked to human cancers, among them colon, prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancers. 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) is a common, potentially harmful HCA that forms via the Maillard reaction. The health consequences of consuming HCAs have caused the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to list PhIP as a “possible human carcinogen.” Spices and flavonoid compounds have received considerable attention for their beneficial effect against HCA formation in our daily foods. In this study, a model system with 0.011 mmol glucose, 0.022 mmol creatinine, and 0.022 mmol phenylalanine in 90:10 diethylene glycol/water (v/v) was heat-treated at 180°C for 1 hour to test the formation of PhIP. Spices such as black pepper oil, piperine, D-limonene, P-cymene, and capsaicin and flavonoid compounds such as quercetin, apigenin, genistin, phlorizin, and catechin were added individually to the model system at three concentrations (125, 625, and 1250 ppm) to test their effect on PhIP formation. The PhIP contents were assessed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The results indicate that four out of five components of spices: black pepper oil, piperine, D-limonene, and capsaicin significantly (p < 0.05) reduced PhIP formation, while P-cymene had no significant effect on PhIP formation. All flavonoid compounds also had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on PhIP formation. These findings provide valuable information about spices and flavonoid compounds as protective agents against HCA formation.

Keywords: heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine, spices, flavonoid compounds, model system

Research Title: الإعلان الالکتروني في وسائط التواصل الاجتماعي

Author: Anas Ibrahim Al-Najjar, Published Year: 2022

مجلة الفنون والعلوم الانسانية, 9

Faculty: Architecture and Design

Abstract: عني البحث الحالي بدراسة الإعلان الإلکتروني فى وسائط التواصل الاجتماعي، وحدد الباحث مشکلة البحث التى ترکزت من خلال السؤال التالي ( ما هي أثار الإعلان الإلکتروني في وسائط التواصل الاجتماعي على المستهلک و الشرکات المنتجة )، وانطوت أهمية البحث فى التعريف بالإعلان بشکل عام و الإعلان الإلکتروني بشکل خاص وأثره على المستهلک و المنتج، و تحددت أهداف البحث فى دراسة تطور الإعلان من الإعلان المطبوع إلى الإعلان الإلکتروني أثارهم على عملية التسويق والاستهلاک وذلک خلال الفترة المحددة 2000-2021م حول العالم، وجاءت الدراسة محددة فى عدة نقاط أساسية للتعريف بالأثار الناتجة من الزخم الإعلاني المتراکم من خلال وسائط التواصل الاجتماعي الذى أحدثت ثورة في عالم الاستهلاک الضروري وغير الضروري على کافة فئات المجتمع الواحد ومدى إسهام ذلک في تغيير اتجاهات السوق والاستهلاک مما أدى إلى توجيه الفئات غير المقتدرة على عمليات الشراء التي لا يحتاجونها أساساً وانعکست الفائدة فقط على الشرکات المصنعة والمروجة للسلع والخدمات، وتناول البحث أيضا دور الإعلان في عملية التسويق و أثره على الاستهلاک، و تضمنت الدراسة تطور الإعلان من الإعلان المطبوع إلى الإعلان في الإنترنت وکذلک أهمية وسائط التواصل الاجتماعي وهي الوسيط الأکثر انتشاراً وتداولاً بين فئات المجتمع الواحد وفي جميع أنحاء العالم، وتأسيساً لما سبق وثقت الدراسة ببعض الرسومات البيانية التي تشير إلى أعداد مستخدمي وسائل التواصل الاجتماعى ، وتضمن البحث استخلاص النتائج التى کان من أهمها عملية التحول من الإعلان المطبوع إلى الإعلان المرئي الذى سار في تسارع هائل وأثار مدوية ذات مخاطر تعرضت لها کافة فئات المجتمع بسبب الزخم الإعلاني الذي يتفاعلون مع محتواه الإعلاني لمنتجات وخدمات هم بغنى عنها.

Keywords: الإعلان الإلکتروني الإعلان المرئي الإعلان في وسائط التواصل الاجتماعي

Research Title: الجرافيک المتحرک وانماطه وبرمجيات تنفيذه

Author: Anas Ibrahim Al-Najjar, Published Year: 2022

مجلة الفنون والعلوم الانسانية, 9

Faculty: Architecture and Design

Abstract: قام البحث بدراسة مشکلة الوعي وأدراک الجرافيک المتحرک ودوره في تبسيط المواضيع المعقدة ومدى أهميته لکافة مستخدمي الوسائط المتعددة وأيضا تم دراسة محتوا الرسائل التي توجهها المؤسسات الحکومية والقطاع الخاص سواء في الجوانب الارشادية وتطبيقات الحياة العملية والأکاديمية والعلمية، وتناول البحث مفهوم الجرافيک المتحرک واهميته في معرفة عناصر الجرافيک المتحرک واستخداماتها الفعالة في التصميم الواحد و إدراک أهمية الجرافيک المتحرک ودوره في إيصال المحتوي الفعال في الحياة اليومية کوسيلة اتصال تقوم بتبسيط المفاهيم وبعض القضايا التي تهم المتلقي، کما هدف الى توعية المتلقي بالجرافيک المتحرک ودوره في حياتنا اليومية والعمل على إدراک مکونات وأنواع الجرافيک المتحرک وتقنيات تنفيذه و تناول البحث محتويات الجرافيک المتحرک من عناصر والتي تمثلت في الاشکال والصور والنصوص والايقونات والشعارات والاصوات ومؤثراتها، کما تناول البحث أنواع الجرافيک المتحرک ثنائي وثلاثي الابعاد واهم البرمجيات المستخدمة في عملية التنفيذ.

Keywords: الجرافيک المتحرک الرسوم المتحرکة برامج تصميم الجرافيک المتحرک

Research Title: Prevalence of Depression, Stress and Anxiety and Impact of Exercise on Mental Health and Physical Performance among Institutionalised Older Adults of Northern Malaysia

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Ageing population around the world is increasing dramatically and mental health is the second biggest health problem in Malaysia. Avoiding sedentary lifestyle and regular physical activity were important for healthy ageing. This study aimed to determine the exercise and mental health among Malaysian elderly in old age homes. Single group pre-test and post-test design was chosen. Status of mental health was assessed before and after exercise programme by using DASS-21 questionnaire. Single group pre-test and post-test study was conducted among old age homes of northern Malaysia and prevalence of mental health was assessed among 178 elderly and strengthening and aerobic exercises were introduced to 39 respondents with mild to moderate depression. The prevalence of depression was 23.6%, anxiety was 18.5% and stress was 7.9%. Significant improvement in physical performance was identified by the Short Physical Performance battery (SPBB) score at week1, 6, 9 and 12 of the exercise programmes (p= 0.000). Depression, anxiety, and stress scores were significantly reduced after the exercise intervention as compared to scores before the exercise (p= 0.000). Social support and emotional support are required to promote the better exercise habits among the elderly. Regular review of the elderly home facilities and exercise activities will help to support healthy aging and active lifestyle among Malaysian elderly residing in old age homes.

Keywords: Exercise, Mental Health, Elderly, Old age home

Research Title: Navigating the case-based learning multimodal learning environment: a qualitative study across the first-year medical students

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Education in Medicine journal, 14

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Case-based learning (CBL) is a popular instructional method aiming to bridge theory and clinical practice. This study aims to explore how the CBL mixed modality curriculum influence students’ learning styles and support-learning strategies. We employed an explanatory sequential mixed method with an initial 44-itemed Felder-Silverman’s Index of Learning Style (ILS) questionnaire distributed to the first-year medical students (n = 142) using convenience sampling to describe preferred learning styles. The qualitative phase utilised three focus group discussions (FGDs) to explore the multimodal learning style exhibited by students in depth. Most students preferred a combination of learning styles reflective, sensing, visual and sequential (i.e., the RSVISeq style, 24.64%) from the ILS analysis. The frequency of learning preference from processing to understanding were well balanced: sequential-global domain (66.2%), sensing–intuitive (59.86%), active–reflective (57%) and visual verbal (51.41%). The qualitative data reported three major themes, namely, Theme 1: CBL mixed modalities navigates learner’s learning style, Theme 2: Learners active learning strategies from the CBL modalities supports learning and Theme 3: CBL modalities facilitating theory into clinical knowledge. Many quantitative and qualitative studies have reported the multimodal learning style of the first-year medical students. Medical students utilise multimodal learning styles to attain clinical knowledge when learning with CBL mixed modalities. Educators’ awareness of the multimodal learning style is crucial in delivering the CBL mixed modalities effectively, considering strategic pedagogical support for students to engage and learn CBL in bridging theoretical knowledge and clinical practice.

Keywords: Case-based learning, Learning style, Medical students, Multimodal learning style

Research Title: Impact of Aerobic and Strengthening Exercise on Quality of Life (QOL), Mental Health and Physical Performance of Elderly People Residing at Old Age Homes

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Sustainability, 14

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Background: The COVID-19 infection spread rapidly in Malaysia, and elderly people with underlying comorbidities were affected most. The study aimed to determine the effect of exercise on QOL and mental health among elderly people residing in old age homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Out of 178 older adults from old age homes in Kedah and Penang States, 39 respondents undertook aerobic and strengthening exercises. A single group pre-test and post-test study was conducted in one government home and nine private homes in the northern region of Malaysia. The DASS-21 scale was used to assess mental health, and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to evaluate QOL. Results: After 12 weeks of the exercise programme, scores for the physical domain increased from 53.1 to 61.8, for the psychological domain from 51.8 to 59.3, for the social domain from 53.2 to 60.5 and for the environmental domain from 67.2 to 72.1. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the depression score from 6.2 to 4.4, the anxiety score from 3.5 to 2.2 and the stress score, from 4.6 to 2.8. Conclusion: Performing aerobic and strengthening exercises for a minimum of 12 weeks may have helped to improve mental health among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it may also improve the quality of life for those who are residing in old age homes

Keywords: exercise; elderly; quality of life; mental health

Research Title: Reliability and preliminary reference values for the Total Faulty Breathing Scale (TFBS): A cross-sectional study

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2022

Health Science Reports, 5

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Background and Aims The evaluation of breathing function is crucial in the clinical examination of the respiratory system. The Total Faulty Breathing Scale (TFBS) could be used in clinical settings to quantify the measurement of breathing dysfunction. Reliability data for the TFBS are available for males, but there is a requirement to determine reliability for females and to develop reference values. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the reliability in females and to establish the preliminary reference values for the TFBS. Methods Twenty-three healthy female participants for reliability and 44 (7 male and 37 female) participants for preliminary reference values participated in this cross-sectional study. For both aspects of the study, participants were instructed to breathe at their own pace with no specific instruction. Then each participant was observed carrying out normal breathing for a period of 10 breaths and deep breathing for a period of 10 breaths while being assessed with the TFBS. Results Intrarater and interrater reliability of the TFBS showed a kappa value of 0.769 and 0.751, respectively, indicating substantial agreement for female participants. The preliminary reference categories for TFBS were reported to be normal for 20 (45.5%) participants and mild faulty breathing for the remaining 24 (54.4%) participants. Conclusions The findings of this study suggested that TFBS was reliable to measure breathing function among female participants, and the reference categories may be helpful in the identification of normal and faulty breathing.

Keywords: breathing function, interrater reliability, intrarater reliability, scale.

Research Title: Classification of SARS-CoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 using machine learning algorithms

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2021

Computers in Biology and Medicine, 136

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Abstract Due to the continued evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, researchers worldwide are working to mitigate, suppress its spread, and better understand it by deploying digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning approaches. This study presents an alignment-free approach to classify the SARS-CoV-2 using complementary DNA, which is DNA synthesized from the single-stranded RNA virus. Herein, a total of 1582 samples, with different lengths of genome sequences from different regions, were collected from various data sources and divided into a SARS-CoV-2 and a non-SARS-CoV-2 group. We extracted eight biomarkers based on three-base periodicity, using DSP techniques, and ranked those based on a filter-based feature selection. The ranked biomarkers were fed into k-nearest neighbor, support vector machines, decision trees, and random forest classifiers for the classification of SARS-CoV-2 from other coronaviruses. The training dataset was used to test the performance of the classifiers based on accuracy and F-measure via 10-fold cross-validation. Kappa-scores were estimated to check the influence of unbalanced data. Further, 10 × 10 cross-validation paired t-test was utilized to test the best model with unseen data. Random forest was elected as the best model, differentiating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus from other coronaviruses and a control a group with an accuracy of 97.4 %, sensitivity of 96.2 %, and specificity of 98.2 %, when tested with unseen samples. Moreover, the proposed algorithm was computationally efficient, taking only 0.31 s to compute the genome biomarkers, outperforming previous studies.

Keywords: COVID-19, Signal processing, Biomarker, Machine learning

Research Title: New real-time force monitoring device with enhanced accuracy for evaluation of applied force during the joint mobilization technique

Author: Madhanagopal Jagannathan, Published Year: 2021

Technology and Health Care, 29

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: Abstract: BACKGROUND: Force Monitoring Devices (FMDs) reported in the literature to monitor applied force during Joint Mobilization Technique (JMT) possess complex design/bulky which alters the execution of treatment, has poor accuracy and is unable to feel the resistance provided by soft tissues limits its usage in the clinical settings. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to develop a highly accurate, portable FMD and to demonstrate real-time monitoring of force applied by health professionals during JMT without altering its execution. METHODS: The FMD was constructed using the FlexiForce sensor, potential divider, ATmega 328 microcontroller, custom-written software, and liquid crystal display. The calibration, accuracy, and cyclic repeatability of the FMD were tested from 0 to 90 N applied load with a gold standard universal testing machine. For practical demonstration, the FMD was tested for monitoring applied force by a physiotherapist while performing Maitland’s grade I to IV over the 6th cervical vertebra among 30 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The obtained Bland-Altman plot limits agreement for accuracy, and cyclic repeatability was -1.57 N to 1.22 N, and -1.26 N to 1.26 N, respectively with standard deviation and standard error of the mean values of 3.77% and 0.73% and 2.15% and 0.23%, respectively. The test-retest reliability of the FMD tested by the same researcher at an interval of one week showed an excellent intra-class correlation coefficient of r= 1.00. The obtained force readings for grade I to IV among 30 subjects ranged from 10.33 N to 45.24 N. CONCLUSIONS: Appreciable performance of the developed FMD suggested that it may be useful to monitor force applied by clinicians during JMT among neck pain subjects and is a useful educational tool for academicians to teach mobilization skills.

Keywords: Force monitoring device, joint mobilization, neck pain, accuracy, reliability

Research Title: The Impact of Sustainability Foundations and Elements on Interior Design Quality and Student’s Behavior in Educational Environments

Author: Saif Mohammad Obeidat, Published Year: 2022

Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Faculty: Architecture and Design

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Keywords: 0